ECONOMICS AND REGULATION OF GRIDS (WITH SPECIAL CONSIDERATION OF THE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS)

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology of the TU Wien invites applications at the Institute of Energy Systems and Electrical Drives for a tenure-track Associate Professor position with qualification agreement in the area of in form of an initially fixed-term (6 years) full time tenure track position starting from April 1st,2019 with the possibility of promotion to a permanent position as Associate Professor after a positive tenure evaluation.

The successful candidate is expected to establish or to continue her/his own research group and to initiate independent, innovative research programs for the development of advanced concepts and methods of grid integration of renewable electricity generation technologies, with special consideration of the necessary economic and regulatory framework conditions for the further development of grid infrastructure and technical grid operation. The methods to be developed should cover both the knowledge of the technical functionality of transmission and distribution grids as well as the economic and regulatory incentives for adequate investment to maintain security of supply in an increasingly complex energy system.

Additionally, this position requires teaching duties for the bachelor’s program Electrical Engineering and Information Technology and the master’s program Energy Systems and Automation Technology. In addition to further contributions to the teaching of the institute, the main responsibility is teaching of the course Energy Systems and Grids, and (co-)teaching of the course Energy Models and Analyses in the master's program.

The requirements for applications to this position are as follows:
Due to the significant increasing integration of renewable electricity generation technologies at all voltage levels, transmission and distribution grids face major challenges. On the one hand, transmission grids must be expanded in a technically and economically efficient way to accommodate large volumes of e.g. onshore / offshore wind integration. At the same time, the interactions with the electricity market and the compliance with market rules need special consideration. On the other hand, distribution grids are expected to provide bi-directional load flows caused by local electricity generation, notably from photovoltaics. Due to the increasing implementation of new local energy concepts, such as tenant electricity sharing models or local peer-to-peer electricity trading, the distribution grids face major challenges, since regardless of the respective market models at any time technical criteria need to be met and may need to be countered. At the same time, the grid tariff determination of the regulated distribution grid operator must be such that cost-covering is possible in grid operation.

The successful candidate to this position is expected to be an internationally recognized scientist with a doctoral degree and with several years of accumulated competence in the area of economics and regulation of grids with special consideration of the technical requirements of the grid infrastructure and grid operation. Comprehensive experience in all areas, both grid levels (transmission and distribution grid) and aggregation levels of electricity generation (central power plants versus local self-generation), is sought to develop solutions that address existing and future challenges of the necessary further development of the grids. A technical education background and in-depth technical understanding are required in this context. Furthermore, the following requirements should already be fulfilled:

Excellent international academic track record and well established international collaboration with universities, research institutes and the energy industry

Experience in running a research group and, as a result, proven social and gender competence

Experience in the academic teaching of courses in the field and supervising of students at multiple levels of education

Experience in the organization of relevant scientific conferences

Experience in reviewing of scientific journals and relevant scientific conferences

The employment starts as University Assistant with a minimum salary of EUR 3.711,10 gross (14× per year) according to the collective bargaining agreement for a PostDoc. After signing the qualification agreement, the employment is as Assistant Professor with a minimum salary of EUR 4.388,70 (14× per year).

The letter of application should include a CV and should address the following points:

research statement (description of previous and planned research)

teaching statement (description of previous and planned teaching)

acquired third-party fund projects

concept for the future plans in research and teaching and contributions to scientific profile of the faculty respectively of the university

TU Wien is committed to increase female employment in leading scientific positions. Female candidates are explicitly encouraged to apply. Preference will be given when equally qualified.

People with special needs are equally encouraged to apply. In case of any questions, please contact the confidant for disabled persons at the university, Mr. Gerhard Neustätter (gerhard.neustaetter@tuwien.ac.at).

Applications should be sent until 10.1.2019 (date of postmark), to TU Wien, HR Administration for scientific staff, Karlsplatz 13, 1040 Vienna, Austria. The written application should contain a CD-ROM or USB stick with the complete application documents. Electronic applications should be sent as a single PDF file to Ms. Manuela Reinharter (manuela.reinharter@tuwien.ac.at).

Applicants have no entitlement to reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses incurred by the application procedure.